Scotland the Brave
{{Short description|Scottish patriotic song}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{more citations needed|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox anthem
|title = {{lang|gd|Alba an Àigh}}
|english_title = Scotland the Brave
|image = Scotland the Brave.jpg{{!}}border
|prefix = Unofficial
|country = {{Flag|Scotland}}
|composer = Traditional
|music_date =
|author = Cliff Hanley (unofficial)
|lyrics_date = 1950
|published = 1870s
|adopted =
|until =
|sound = Scotland the Brave (1995) - Pipe Band - United States Air Force Reserve Band.mp3
|sound_title = "Scotland the Brave" (instrumental)
}}
"Scotland the Brave" ({{langx|gd|Alba an Àigh}}) is a Scottish patriotic song, one of three often considered an unofficial Scottish national anthem (the others being "Flower of Scotland", and "Scots Wha Hae").
History
The tune probably originated in the late 19th century.{{cite web|url=http://www.ibiblio.org/fiddlers/SC.htm#SCOTLAND_THE_BRAVE|title=SCAFFIES CAIRET|website=ibiblio.org}} The earliest known printing of the tune was in the Utah Musical Bouquet, January 1878, and the earliest known version printed in Scotland is in The National Choir, 1891.{{cite web|url=https://ldshymnology.wordpress.com/2022/05/09/praise-to-the-man/|title=Praise to the Man|website=ldshymnology.wordpress.com|date=9 May 2022 }}
The lyrics commonly used now were written about 1950 by Scottish journalist Clifford Leonard Clark "Cliff" Hanley for singer Robert Wilson as part of an arrangement by Marion McClurg. Another set of lyrics also often heard were sung by Canadian singer John Charles McDermott; they are closely based on the poem "Let Italy Boast" by James Hyslop, which was first published in 1821 in The Edinburgh Magazine. However, Hyslop intended his poem to be sung to the melody of Sir Walter Scott of Abbotsford, 1st Baronet's "Boat Song" from "The Lady of the Lake" and not "Scotland the Brave".
"Scotland the Brave" is also the authorised pipe band march of the British Columbia Dragoons of the Canadian Armed Forces.[http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/his/ol-lo/vol-tom-3/par1/arm-bli/BCD-eng.asp Canadian Forces webpage]. Retrieved 25 January 2013
"Scotland the Brave" was played before matches involving the Scottish national football team at the 1982, 1986, and 1990 FIFA World Cups.{{cite web|title=Scotland vs Denmark 1986|url=http://www.megaupload.com/?d=GL71OJEO}}{{Dead link|date=June 2012}}{{cite web|title=URSS vs Scotland 1982| website=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3T2w9vl4qA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200423072538/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3T2w9vl4qA|url-status=dead|archive-date=2020-04-23}}{{cite news|title=Margaret Thatcher feared the Scotland the Brave anthem|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article7017796.ece|newspaper=The Sunday Times|date=7 February 2010|location=London|first=Fiona|last=Hamilton}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{cite news |url=http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/156884/Thatcher-was-terrified-by-Scotland-the-Brave |title=Thatcher was terrified by Scotland the Brave |work=Daily Express |publisher=Northern and Shell Media Publications |first=Rod |last=Mills |date=3 February 2010 |accessdate=16 September 2013}} "Flower of Scotland" was subsequently adopted by Scotland for use at FIFA-sponsored events, after its usage by the Scottish rugby union team.
In June 2006, the song rated second in an online poll with more than 10,000 votes to determine Scotland's favourite unofficial anthem, losing only to "Flower of Scotland".[http://rsno.org.uk/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=119&Itemid=1 The Royal Scottish National Orchestra – Stéphane Denève (Music Director) – The RSNO National Anthem Poll Winner] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215011908/http://rsno.org.uk/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=119&Itemid=1 |date=15 February 2009 }} The song was used to represent Scotland in the Commonwealth Games until it was replaced by "Flower of Scotland" from the 2010 games onwards.{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8449939.stm |work=BBC News| title=Games team picks new Scots anthem | date=9 January 2010}}
In popular culture
{{excessive examples|section|date=May 2021}}
- In the 1968 movie The Devil's Brigade, composer Alex North uses the melody as the beginning for the opening theme, and with variations, throughout the film score; the song is played by the bagpipers of the Canadian component of the 1st Special Service Force when they march into Fort William Henry Harrison to the disbelief of their US counterparts.{{cn|date=July 2024}}
- In the 1970 movie Patton, the British Eighth Army, led by General Montgomery, marches through the streets of Messina to "Scotland the Brave" until they encounter General Patton's US Seventh Army. After a short exchange between the two commanders, the British band strikes up "Scotland the Brave" again, only for it to be symbolically drowned out by the American band playing "The Stars and Stripes Forever."
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hymn "Praise to the Man" is set to a very similar tune to "Scotland the Brave". "Praise to the Man" was published before "Scotland the Brave" by two decades and attributes the music to "Anonymous, Scottish Folk Song".{{cite web|url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/music/songs/praise-to-the-man?lang=eng|title=Praise to the Man|website=ChurchofJesusChrist.org }}{{cite web|url=https://singpraises.net/texts/en/27/praise-to-the-man|title=Praise to the Man (English)|website=SingPraises.net }}
- The song is often played on bagpipes at New York Police Department funerals.
- Pro wrestler "Rowdy" Roddy Piper used the song as his entrance music throughout his career until 1986. He also performed the song on the bagpipes, alongside the Balmoral Highlanders, at WWF's SummerSlam '92 held in Wembley Stadium.
- Dorothy the Dinosaur dances to this song in The Wiggles' 1997 videotape Wiggly, Wiggly Christmas.
- The first verse and chorus of Hanley's version are sung a cappella in Stuart Ross' 1990 musical movie Forever Plaid.
- The Scottish ITV television station Grampian Television used the first eight notes of the song in its logo identifications (or "idents") during its first three decades of broadcasting.{{cn|date=July 2024}}
- In the video game Holdfast: Nations At War, the song can be played by players as a British Empire bagpiper.
- The University of Chicago alma mater is sung to the tune of Scotland the Brave during graduations with the university's bagpipe corps leading the processional.
- The 2009 single "Irish Celebration" by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis samples the melody of Scotland the Brave.
- The song is also used by the Notre Dame Men’s Lacrosse Team, who assigns one member to lead the team out with bagpipes
References
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External links
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Category:British military marches
Category:Scottish patriotic songs
Category:National symbols of Scotland
Category:Royal Regiment of Scotland